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My first acoustic piano arrived today. After playing some notes and harmonizing with my voice and guitar, I realized I need some songs to play! I am hoping that someone here can put me on the right track to building a solid foundation by recommending some beginner pieces. My only experience with keyboard was last semester in music theory. (I'm not ready for Scarlatti yet.) I have keyboard classes next year and would like to get a solid foundation before then.

Is your keyboard class going to be general piano skills (multi-genre) or classical only? Do you know what book the class will use (if it is a college or university class, you can look up the book used for Fall semester of the class, for example).

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If I were you I'd start playing scales in all keys and arpeggio to get the fingers and arms moving while waiting for the course to begin. If you want to play "songs" that depends on what you like. You can get a book of "easy piano" for the beginner. You can also have a look at the Faber "Improve your Sightreading" series (levels go from easy to hard).

The good thing about a forum is that you get different opinions. Because I would definitely not start playing scales and arpeggios! The best way of getting a solid foundation is to get a teacher sooner rather than later, but of course you want to play already today, and I would recommend you to buy a method book, as earlofmar has mentioned above. Also, technique is very important. I think the Faber's page is a good place to start, also if you don't use the Piano adventures books.

Playing the piano is learning to create, playfully and deeply seriously, our own music in the world.* ... feeling like the pianist on the Titanic ...

I have been using the Alfred books for a little over a year. I am working on book 2 now. It's a good series. I also supplement a bit with the Piano Adventures series. They are both helpful for the basics. The Piano Adventures seems to use more individual notes and Alfred uses more chords. It also seems like Piano Adventures moves a little more slowly. I also have some of the supplemental books that go with them, I'm pretty sure there is a Classical book that accompanies both book 1 and book 2. There are separate threads on this forum for both people who use Alfred and people who use the Faber Piano Adventures. Good luck!